Vaporizer device



March 5, 1968 E. w. WYKA 3,371,985

VAPORI ZER DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1964 INVENTOR Edward W. Wy k0 BY 3WATTORNEY United States Patent 3,371,985 VAPORIZER DEVICE Edward W. Wyka,716 Bermuda Road, West Babylon, NY. 11794 Filed Sept. 16, 1964, Ser. No.396,849 Claims. (Cl. 21-91) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE Adisinfectant-crystal vaporizing device having a hollow cylindricalcasing, a cylindrical cartridge removably received within the casing,said cartridge containing disinfectant crystals. An impeller assembly isrotatably and slidably mounted within the casing to sealingly coveroutlet openings disposed through one end of the cartridge. When air isforced into said cartridge through an inlet opening at the other endthereof, the impeller assembly will be caused to rotate and uncover saidoutlet openings, to thereby permit egress of disinfectant vapors and toaccomplish the uniform mixing thereof.

This invention relates generally to the disinfecting art and moreparticularly to the provision of a vaporizer device which may beutilized in conjunction with conventional vacuum cleaner apparatus tothe end of disinfecting, exterminating or otherwise cleansing articlesused in sick-rooms, in either homes or hospitals, or to purify the airwithin such articles.

Whereas matresses, e.g., because of insufficient ventilation and becauseof the sustenance for long periods at temperatures conducive to germ andharmful bacteria incubation, are frequently the cause of prolonging theillness of one member of a family and of occasioning the transmittal ofdisease to other members of the family.

Accordingly, and consonant with the foregoing, the desideratum of thepresent invention resides in facilitating the ventilation of articlessuch as mattresses and simultaneously therewith to effectuatedisinfecting of the interior of the mattress to the end of minimizingpromulgation of disease and to thus rid an area of otherwise hazardouscontamination.

Essentially the invention is directed to providing a vaporizer devicewhich can be expediently utilized in combination with a household vacuumcleaner and appro priate lengths of conduit to enable the forcefulintroduction of disinfected purified air interiorly of a mattress andconcurrently occasion the removal of stagnant air pocketed therewithin.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vaporizer devicewhich can be readily interposed intermediate the blower exhaust outletof a vacuum cleaner and the mattress to be treated, suitable conduitsbeing utilized to carry the disinfected air to'the mattress.

A further object of this invention is to provide a vaporizer devicewhich includes impeller means for homogeneously mixing the vapors of thedisinfectant crystals with the air forced therethrough by the vacuumcleaner.

Another object of the instant invention resides in the provision of avaporizer device of the foregoing character which is adapted toremovably receive a replaceable disinfectant crystal-containingcartridge.

Another general object of the present invention is to provide a deviceof the described character which will be simple in structure, economicalof manufacture, easily and quickly installed and highly effective inuse.

Other objects and advantages of the instant vaporizer device will be setforth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrorn, or maybe learned by practice of the invention, the Same being realized andattained by ice means of the structure defined and pointed out in theappended claims.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagrammatic view of the mattress disinfectingsystem referred to herein, pairs of conduits being shown respectivelyintroducing purified air to and exhausting stagnated air from theinterior of the mattress;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the vaporizer device, thecylindrical hollow casing thereof being shown in cross-section;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional side elevati-onal view of the hollowcasing, cartridge and impeller assembly, the slidable attribute of thelatter being illustrated therein; and

FIGURE 4 is a reduced exploded perspective view of thecrystal-containing cartridge and the impeller assembly.

Similar reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout thevarious figures of the drawings.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 shows thevaporizer device designated generally by numeral 1 and interposedbetween a conventional vacuum cleaner designated generally by numeral 2and a mattress 4. Flexible conduit 6 is shown connecting the blowerexhaust outlet 8 of the vacuum cleaner to said vaporizer device,conduits 10 and '12 effectuating the connection between the vaporizerdevice to one side 14 of the mattress. It will be appreciated thatmattresses of the type treated in accordance with the present disclosureinclude openings along the sides thereof for purposes of ventilation, itbeing these openings through which conduit nozzles 16 and '18 may beinserted as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Should ventilation openingsperchance be absent in certain mattress constructions, suitable openingsmay be cut therein, eyeletted for strength and utilized to receive theconduit nozzles 16 and 18. As will be further observed, conduit 20 whichconnects to the suction outlet 22 of the vacuum cleaner is connected tothe interior of mattress 4 in a manner like that aforedescribed withrespect to conduits 10 and 12, branch conduits 24 and 26 and nozzles 28and 30 thereof, respectively, being particularly utilized inaccomplishing the connection.

Accordingly, as generally illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, theair circulation of the operating mattress disinfecting system willinclude the introduction of disinfected or purified air designated byarrows 32 through side 14 of the mattress and the withdrawal of thestagnated and/or disinfected air through side 34 of the mattress, theair within the mattress subsequent to the cessation of circulation beingsubstantially disinfected, the germicidal content thereof being greatlyminimized.

As more specifically disclosed in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings,the structure of the vaporizer device comprises a hollow cylindricalcasing 36 formed of two complementary sections threadedly connected atthreaded region 38, and end walls 40 and 42, the former havingconduit-receiving-openings 44 and 46 disposed therethrough and thelatter having conduit-receiving-opening 48 disposed therethrough. Endwall 4d further includes a shaft-receiving-bore 5d axially and centrallydisposed therein, said bore extending partially into the wall and facinginwardly of the casing as shown, compression spring 52 being positionedwithin the bore to bias the impeller assembly 54 in the mannerhereinbelow described.

The impeller assembly 54 shown in perspective in FIG- URE 4 and in sideelevation in FIGURES 2 and 3 will be observed to comprise cylindricalcup-shaped hub 56 having a circular rim 58 on one side, a fiatdisc-shaped end wall 60 on the other side, a plurality of impeller vanes62 arranged radially thereof and a shaft 64 extending axially andthrough end Wall 60.

Disinfectant-crystal-containing-cartridge 66 is formed of end portions68 and 76 'and cylindrical jacket 72 which is substantially similar indiameter to the inside diameter of said hollow cylindrical casing. Endportion 68 includes a passage 74 disposed axially therethrough and aplurality of apertures 76 arranged proximately about said passage, the[greatest distance between the centers of any two apertures beingsmaller than the inside diameter of said cuplike hub. The second endportion 70 is provided with an opening 78 disposed therethrough, saidopening being, as shown, preferably in alignment with saidconduitreceivin-g-opening 48 provided through said end Wall 42 of thecylindrical hollow casing, and resilient closure flaps 80 and 82 beingprovided within said opening to function in combination as a check-valveto permit unidirectional communication from without to within saidcartridge. That is, air (arrow 84) being forced through conduit 6 fromthe blower exhaust of the vacuum cleaner or forced air convector causessaid valve flaps to spread open as shown in broken line in FIGURE 3whereby the air will be permitted to enter the cartridge. When thesystem is not in use, the flaps will close thereby sealing opening 78 inend portion 70 thus precluding vaporization loss of the disinfectantcrystals therethrou-gh.

In accordance with the foregoing, it will be appreciated that thevaporizer device, in assembled form as shown, includes the impellerassembly 54 intermediate end wall 40 of the hollow casing and endportion 68 of the cartridge. End '86 of shaft 64 is slidably androtatably disposed within bore 50 and is biased outwardly therefrom byspring 52, the other end 88 of said shaft being slidably and rotatablydisposed within said passage 74, the circular rim 56 of the impellerassembly being in normally biased seating engagement with end portion'68 of the cartridge to thereby enclose said plurality of apertures 76.

In operation, air 84 flowing forcefully through conduit 6, will causeflaps 8t) and 82 to open whereby 'air will flow into the cartridge andcause vaporization of the disinfectant crystals '90, whereupon air andcrystal vapor will fiow through apertures 76 and act against the insideof wall 60 of the hub and upon overcoming the bias due to spring 52, theimpeller assembly will move away from the cartridge and occupy theposition as shown in broken 4 line designation in FIGURE 3 of thedrawings. The circular rim, thus in the unseated attitude, will permitthe air and disinfectant vapors to flow between the rim and the endportion 68 and thence against impeller vanes 62 to thereby rotate theimpeller assembly and occasion substantially thorough mixing of the airand disinfectant vapors to produce a homogeneous mixture thereof. Thismixture, so produced, will then flow through conduits ltl and 12 andinto the mattress in the manner aforedescribed, the suction conduit 20thereafter withdrawing the mixture from the other side of the mattressfor subsequent and continued recycling and repurification.

It will be understood that the described components of the disinfectingsystem may be constructed within a single housing, the required conduitsbeing the only elements thereof extending exteriorly therefrom. Also,the system may be modified by utilizing only the blower exhaust of thevacuum cleaner and allowing the air-disinfectant mixture to egressthrough the walls of the mattress and thereby circulate therewithinwithout the assistance of the suction conduit embodiment.

Although the preferred embodiment of the vaporizer device anddisinfecting system have been described, it will be understood thatwithin the purview of this inveniton various changes may be made in theforms, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combinationthereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consists in 'adevice capable of carrying out the objects set forth as disclosed anddefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mattress disinfecting system including a forced air convectingmeans, a vaporizer device comprising a hollow cylindrical casing, acylindrical cartridge removably receivable within the latter, and animpeller assembly, said casing being formed of two threadably connectedsections and including first and second end walls, each end wall havinga conduit-receiving-opening disposed therethrough, a first conduitconnecting one opening of said device to the forced air convecting meansand a second conduit received in the other opening, said latter conduitbeing connectable to a mattress, said first end wall having ashaft-receiving-bore axially disposed therein, said bore extendingpartially into said first wall, a compression spring within said bore,said impeller assembly comprising a cylindrical cup-shaped hub having acircular rim on one side, a plurality of impeller vanes arrangedradially thereof and a shaft extending axially therethrough, saidcartridge having first and second end portions, the former having apassage disposed axially therethrough and a plurality of aperturesarranged proximately about said passage, said second end portion havingan opening therethrough, said opening having check-valve means adaptedto permit unidirectional communication from without to within saidcartridge, one end of said shaft being slidably and rotatably disposedwithin said bore and biased outwardly therefrom by said spring, theother end of said shaft being slidably and rotatably disposed withinsaid passage, said circular rim being in normally biased seatingengagement with said first end portion to thereby enclose said pluralityof apertures, whereby air flowing from said cartridge outwardly of saidapertures will unseat said circular rim and thence impinge upon saidimpeller vanes to thereby rotate the impeller assembly, the air thenceflowing into said second conduit, and therefrom to the mattress.

2. In a mattress disinfecting system including a forced air convectingmeans, a vaporizer device comprising a hollow casing, a cartridgeremovably mounted within the latter, said cartridge containingdisinfectant crystals, and an impeller assembly having impeller vanesarranged radially thereabout, said impeller assembly being in normallybiased sealing relation over a plurality of apertures provided throughone end of said assembly being movable between a position covering saidplurality of apertures and a position spaced with respect to saidapertures, said assembly being displaced away from said sealing relationby air flowing from said forced air convecting means into said cartridgethrough an opening provided through the other end thereof, said impellerassembly being caused to rotate when so displaced, the vanes thereofacting to mix the vapors emanating from said disinfectant crystals.

3. A disinfectant-crystal vaporizer device comprising a hollowcylindrical casing, a cylindrical cartridge removably receivable withinthe latter, said cartridge containing disinfectant crystals, and animpeller assembly rotatably interposed between respective end walls ofsaid hollow casing and said cartridge, said casing being formed ofseparable sections and having first and second end walls, each end wallhaving a conduit-receiving-opening disposed therethrough, said first endwall having a shaftreceiving bore axially disposed therein, said boreextending partially into said first wall, a compression spring withinsaid bore, said impeller assembly comprising a cylindrical cup-shapedhub having a circular rim on one side, a plurality of impeller vanesarranged radially thereof and a shaft extending axially therethrough,said cartridge having first and second end portions, the former having apassage disposed axially therethrough and a plurality of aperturesarranged proximately about said passage, said second end portion havingan opening therethrough,

said opening having check-valve means adapted to permit unidirectionalcommunication from without to within said cartridge, one end of saidshaft being slidably and rotatably disposed within said bore and biasedoutwardly therefrom 'by said spring, the other end of said shaft beingslidably and rotatably disposed within said passage, said circular rimbeing in normally biased seating engagement with said first end portionto thereby sealingly enclose said plurality of apertures.

4. A disinfectant-crystal vaporizer device comprising a hollowcylindrical casing, a cylindrical cartridge removably receivable withinthe latter, said cartridge containing disinfectant crystals, and animpeller assembly rotatably positioned within said hollow casing andinterposed therein between respective end walls of said hollow casingand said cartridge, said impeller assembly comprising a cylindricalcup-shaped hub having a circular rim on one side, a plurality ofimpeller vanes arranged radially thereof and a shaft extending axiallytherethrough, said cartridge having first and second end portions, theformer having a passage disposed axially therethrough and a plurality ofapertures arranged proximately about said passage, said second endportion having an opening therethrough, one end of said shaft beingslidably and rotatably disposed within said passage, and bias meansacting against the other end of said shaft thereby causing said circularrim to 'be in removably biased seating engagement with said first endportion to thereby sealingly enclose said plurality of apertures.

5. A disinfectant-crystal vaporizer device comprising a hollow casing, acartridge removably receivable within the latter, said cartridge beingadapted to contain disinfectant crystals, and an impeller assemblyrotatably positioned within said hollow casing and interposed thereinbetween respective end walls of said hollow casing and said cartridge,said impeller assembly comprising a hub having a peripheral rim on oneside, a plurality of vanes arranged radially of said hub and a shaftextending axially therethrough, said cartridge having first and secondend portions, the former having a passage disposed axially therethroughand at least one aperture arranged proxi- =mately of said passage, saidsecond end portion having an opening therethrough, one end of said shaftbeing slidably and rotatably disposed within said passage, and biasmeans acting against the other end of said shaft thereby causing saidperipheral rim to be in removably biased seating engagement with saidfirst end portion to thereby sealingly enclose said at least oneaperture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,817,533 8/1931 Spanel 21--127FOREIGN PATENTS 350,055 6/ 1931 Great Britain.

JAMES H. TAYMAN, JR., Primary Examiner.

